Sports

On a team devoid of superstars you could make a case for any one of a number of players to be named Kelowna Rockets most valuable player this season.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Captain Colton Sissons was named Rockets MVP and top defensive forward

Myles Bell, a converted defenceman led the team in goals (38) and points (93).

Jordon Cooke led the Western Hockey League with 37 wins while amassing an impressive 2.53 goals against average and five shutouts.

In the end, it was Colton Sissons, the hands down leader of the team on and off the ice, who was voted the team's Most Valuable Player at the Rockets annual awards function Sunday afternoon at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

"It's really special. Like I said in my acceptance speech I was up here two years to this day accepting rookie of the year and here I am today," says Sissons of the honour.

"I never thought I would be here and wouldn't be here without the Kelowna Rockets, my family and my billets. It's just surreal."

Sissons, finishing his third full season with the Rockets, had career highs in goals (28), assist (39) and points (67) in just 61 games.

He was also named the Rockets top defensive forward.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Tyson Baillie was named Most Improved Player

Rookie Rourke Chartier and Bell also picked up a pair of honours.

Chartier was named Rookie of the Year and Scholastic Player of the Year while Bell was the leading scorer and shared Humanitarian of the Year with Carter Rigby.

Other winners Sunday include:

• Most Sportsmanlike - Zach Franko
• Top defenceman - Damon Severson
• Most Improved - Tyson Baillie
• Plus/Minus winner - Dylen McKinlay (plus 55)
• Unsung Hero - Tyrell Goulbourne

The Rockets, who won six in a row to close out the regular season, open the playoffs Friday against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Game two in the series goes Saturday at Prospera Place before the series shifts to Seattle for games three and four next Tuesday and Wednesday.

"We're not going to underestimate these guys. They play great, especially at home," says Sissons.

"They've engaged some great games against us - some really close games that could have gone either way so we need to take them seriously and focus on this series and not look ahead what-so-ever.